Marking machine



Dec. 29, 1936.

c. F. EATON MARKING MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1934 Dec. 29, 1936.

C. F. EATON MARKINGr MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.

l rD/Erpmy ifa, Z 01162@ Dec. 29, 1936.

c. F. EATON MARKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 C. F. EATON MARKING MACHINE Filed Jan.

C. FQ EATON MARKING MACMNE Filed Jan. 5, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 2.9, 1936 UNITED -STATES PATENT OFFICEA Parshad Holding Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 5, 1934, Serial No. 705,428

Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for marking designs and patterns on shoe upper sections and similar pieces or blanks of sheet material.

In the manufacture of shoes, particularly 5 womens shoes, it is customary to apply ornamental designs to the shoe uppers, as by stitching. The designs are usually applied to the cutout sections of the uppers before they are assembled in the shoe, and in the case of stitching the designs are first marked on the upper sections and the markings are then followed in the stitching. For marking the design on a shoe upper section an embossing plate is commonly used, on which the desired design is formed by bosses or projections arranged in lines, rows or groups to delineate the design. 'I'hen by placing the embossing plate, the blank to be marked and a pigmented transfer sheet together and subjecting them to pressure the design corresponding to Vthe arrangement of the projections on the embossing plate is printed or transferred from the transfer sheet to the blank. An example of this method of marking and of a press for performing it are described in the Edwards Patent No. 1,639,332 dated August 16, 1927.

, The improved marking machine of the present invention includes, among other features of novelty, a platen or press member which swings laterally into and out of position over the work-bed and also reciprocates vertically toward and from the work-bed while in position over the workbed; a novel and improved work-bed and holder for the embossing plate; a novel and improved mechanism for feeding the transfer sheet; and other improvements; all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a marking machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation partly broken away and in section of the lmachine shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the work-bed showing an embossing plate in position thereon;

45 Fig. 4 is an edge View, partly in section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, of the embossing plate and its mount;

Fig. 5 is an edge view of the holder for the embossing plate;

Fig. 6 is an edge View of the cushioning pad on which the holder rests;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail illustrating the relation of the parts immediately associated with the marking;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section showing the pivotal support of, the platen with the platen in position over the work-bed;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical section of the platen showing the feed mechanism for the transfer sheet in elevation; and Y Fig. 10 is a plan view of said platen and feed mechanism.

The main frame I6 of the machine is of rectangular box-like form, open at the top, as shown at II (Fig. 3), to receive the base plate I2 kof a generally rectangular work-bed, indicated generally at I3 which approximately fits the opening II.

The base plate I2 is supported by a series of coil springs I4, each of which is seated upon a lug I5 projecting from the inner surface of frame l0. Above each lug I 5 the base plate I2 is formed with a Counterbored aperture which loosely receives a screw I 6 whose lower end is screwed into a threaded aperture in lug I5 with the spring I4 surrounding the screw. The heads of the screws I6 constitute stops to limit the upward movement of the work-bed under the influence of the springs I4, and the normal or uppermost position of the work-bed may be varied by adjustment of the screws. IS. Thus the Work-bed is yieldingly supported and free to rock slightly in any direction, but is stationary in the sense that it occupies a xed station in the machine.

Resting on top of the base plate I2 is a resilient cushioning pad Il' preferably made of a sheet of rubber. Resting on top of the pad I 'I is a holder for the embossing plate consisting of two separate sections I8, I8, placed side by side with their proximate edges substantially abutting. The side marginal edge of each plate section of the divided holder I8 is made with an upstanding rib or ange it for engaging and positioning the edge of the mount on which the embossing plate is carried. The base plate I2, the pad Il and the divided holder I8, when assembled, provide a yielding support for the removable embossing die.

The embossing die structure (Figs. 3 and 4) includes a thin sheet metal base plate 20, of rectangular form to rest upon the holder I3 and to fit between the flanges I9, a bolster plate 2l, preferably of somewhat thicker sheet metal than the base plate 20, and the embossing plate itself 22 on top of the bolster plate. The embossing plate is made as usual with a number of small pointed generally conical projections 23 (Figs. 3 and '7) struck up from the body of the metal and arranged in lines or groups according to the design which is to be marked on the blank.

The base plate 26, the bolster plate 2| and the embossing plate 22 may be fastened together in any suitable manner as by metal eyelets 25 passing through the three plates. As shown in Fig. 3 the embossing plate 22 and bolster plate 2| are of the same size and shape as the shoe upper section or other blank which is to be marked.

The piece of leather or other blank which is to be marked is placed in position on top of the embossing plate 22 with its edges registering with theedges of the embossing plate. The piece to be marked, if of leather, is preferably placed on the embossing plate with its flesh side against the embossing plate and its grain side or skin side up; if of other material than leather the piece is similarly placed with its nished side up. To facilitate positioning and holding the blank on the embossing plate a plurality of gauges or guides 24 are provided, each consisting of a strip of spring sheet metal having one end fastened by rivets to the base plate 28 and the other end bent to form a shoulder 24', close to the edge of plates 2| and 22, and a tip 26 which extends a short distance inward over the surface of the embossing plate. The margin of the blank to be marked, which is of the same size and shape as the embossing plate, is inserted under the tips 26 and against the shoulders 24', the clamping guides 24 thus holding the blank in correct position on the embossing plate.

Each section of the divided holder plate I8 is provided near its outer edge with a pair of depending dowel pins 3|, which extend down through holes 21 in the rubber pad |1 and holes 28 (Fig. 8) in the base plate |2 of the work-bed. These dowel pins serve to hold both the pad I1 and the embossing plate holder I8 in position on the base plate. There is a slight clearance or looseness of iit between the dowel pins and their holes to permit a slight lateral creeping movement as presently to be described.

. The front of each plate section I8 is notched or cut away as shown at 29 and the front of the pad |1 is similarly notched or cut away as shown at 38 to provide a marginal opening into which the operator may insert his nger in order to grasp the plate 20 of the embossing die when inserting it or removing it from the holder.

The platen by which the marking pressure is applied is mounted so that it may be swung laterally into and out of position over the workbed and may also be reciprocated vertically toward and from the work-bed while in position over the work-bed. Thus, the platen may be swung out of the way to provide a clear and unobstructed access to the work-bed for arranging the work thereon and then may be swung back to operating position over the work-bed, and while in that position reciprocated to perform the marking operation.

To this end the platen 32 is mounted to be swung manually on a vertical axis in a lateral or horizontal direction, the platen being shown in Figs. 1 and 2 away from the work-bed and in Fig. 8 in position directly over the work-bed. The platen is reciprocated vertically while in position over the work-bed by manually operating a power controlling lever shown at 33 in Figs. 1 and 2. Upon operating the lever 33 a quick vertical reciprocation is imparted to the platen 32 which results in marking the blank with the design outlined by the projections 23 of the embossing plate 22.

After the marking operation`- the operator manually swings the platen 32 aside into its retracted position, shown in Fig. 2, re- Y moves the marked blank and substitutes another blank to be marked.

Heretofore it has been customary to employ a work-bed in the form of a carriage which can be slid in and out from under a vertically reciprocating platen. The work was arranged on the sliding carriage while it was out from under the press member. Then it was slid to operating position under the press member. This shifting of the wo-rk-bed and the work back into marking position was objectionable in that it endangered the disarrangement of the adjusted blank and consequent faulty marking. In the present machine the work-bed is not shifted but remains at rest thus avoiding the danger of disarranging the work after it has once been adjusted; while the power operated platen or press member is shifted laterally out of the way to permit the work to be arranged on the workbed and then is swung back to marking position' without subjecting the work to any jolts or movements which might displace or disarrange it.

The bottom `surface or working face of the platen 32 is flat and serves as a rigid backing for a transfer sheet 34, which may be made of thin sheet material such as paper or fabric coated or impregnated with a pigment preferably of a color which contrasts with the color of the ma-l terial to be marked. The opposite ends of the transfer sheet 34 are connected to two spindles 35 and 36 positioned near opposite edges of ther platen 32. Each spindle 35 and 36 is vrotatably mounted at its opposite end within sockets 31 so as to h-old the detent in operative position.l

By loosening the thumb screw 48 the detent may be swung upwardly on its screw out of the wayleaving the spindle free to be lifted out of its socket 31 or to be inserted therein.

Fixed on the inner end of each spindle 35 and Each spindle 35 and` 36 is a ratchet wheel 4| with which is associated l a pawl 42 fixed upon the end of a small rockshaft 43. Each rockshaft 43 is journaled in a bearing at the free end of one of the two arms of a lever I The otherA 44, fulcrumed at 45 on the platen 32. arm of each lever 44 extends inwardly toa point near the middle of platen 32 where it is provided with a laterally extending arm 46 whose freeenl occupies a position beneath an abutment ring 41 i' against the top edge of the link 49 by a spring in recess 5I acting against the top of the plunger 58 v and tending yieldingly to press the link 49 downwardly. The roll 52 cooperates with a. cam lug 53 on the middle of link 49 yieldingly to hold the link 49 in whichever of its two extreme positions it may be shifted endwise when swung on arms 48. The pawls 42 are positioned outside of the ratchet wheels 4|, whose teeth face in opposite directions. When the link 49 is moved endwise toward theleft.. as vshown inMFig. 9, the pawl 42 75H,

of spindle 36 is engaged with its ratchet wheel 4| while pawl 42 of spindle 35 is swung away from its ratchet wheel to inoperative position. When the link 49 is moved endwise toward the right the pawl and ratchet of spindle 36 will be disengaged While the pawl and ratchet of spindle 35 will be engaged. The cam lug 53 is of such width as to pass from a position at one side of the roll 52 to a position at the other side of the roll when the link 49 is moved endwise in either direction, and when the link is at the limit of its movement in either direction the roll 52 will bear against the adjacent inclined side of cam lug 53. Consequently the pawl 42 which is then in engagement with its ratchet wheel is yieldingly held against its ratchet wheel by means of the spring in recess 51, acting through plunger 50, roll 52, link 49, arms 48 and rockshaft 43.

When the platen 32 is in position over the die support and makes its single Vertical reciprocatory movement, the fulcrums (Figs. 9 and 10), of the levers 44 first move downwardly relatively to flange 41 on the down stroke of the platen and then return upwardly to their normal elevated positions, on the up stroke of the platen, where they remain until the power controlling handle 33 (Fig. l) is again operated.

Thespring pressed plunger 5U is, as described, carried by the vertically movable platen 32 and moves vertically with the fulcrums 45. It follows therefore that as the fulcrums 45 move downwardly relatively to flange 41 the spring pressed plunger acts through link 49, arms 48 and rockshafts 43 to swing the outermost shorter arms of levers 44 downwardly relatively to platen 32 which causes the laterally extending arms 46 at the inner ends of levers 44 to remain against the annular flange 41 during the downward movement of platen 32 until the inner arms of levers 44 engage stop members 54, after which the levers 44 move bodily downwardly with the platen 32 without movement on their fulcrums 45. During this downward movement of the platen 32 the accompanying downward movement of the outer arms of levers 44 causes the pawl 42 which is then in action to trail idly over its ratchet wheel. Thereafter during the upward movement of platen 32, the laterally extending arms 46 of levers 44 engage the flange 41, with the result that as the platen 32 completes its upward movement the levers 44 are swung in the opposite direction on their fulcrums 45, so that the pawl then in action acts through its ratchet wheel 4I to rotate its spindle, 35 or 36 as the case may be, in a direction partially to wind the transfer sheet 34 thereon. Thus after each marking operation a step movement is automatically imparted to the transfer sheet 34 to present unused portions thereof in position to cooperate with the marking projections 23.

A pair of spring brake members are fastened in position upon the platen 32, one adjacent each of the spindles 35 and 36, and each brake 55 bears at its free end against the roll of transfer sheet which is wound on the adjacent spindle. These brake arms 55 yieldingly retard rotative movement of the spindles thereby preventing accidental displacement of the transfer sheet in either direction.

It will be evident from the preceding description that the spring pressed plunger 50 performs the double function of holdingthe active pawl 42 yieldingly against its ratchet wheel and of swinging the levers 44 during the downward movement of platen 32. It will also be clear that the active pawl 42 positively' actuates its spindle 35 or 36 during the upward movement of platen 32 thereby to effect the feeding movement of the transfer sheet 34.

Each stop member 54 is a metal plate fastened in position against the sides of platen arm by means of screws 56, which extend through a vertical slot provided in said stop plate, so that when desired the latter can be adjusted vertically to vary the extent of the feeding movement imparted to the transfer sheet 34 by the active pawl 42.

.As-pointed out above the levers 44 are swung on their fulcrums 45 in one direction by spring pressed plunger 50, but if desired supplemental springs may be connected with the inner arms of levers 44 to assist the spring pressed plunger 50 in performing this work.

The supporting arm of platen 32 is formed at its inner end with a hub 56 (Figs. 2 and 8) rotatively mounted upon a tubular post 51, which is mounted to slide vertically within a vertical bearing 58 provided on the main frame I 8.

At its lower end the tubular post 51 is formed at opposite sides thereof with longitudinal slots, one of which is shown at 59 in Fig. 8, and transversely through these slots extends the main shaft 60 of the machine, which is journaled in bearings on frame I8.

Within the lower end of tubular post 51 the main shaft 66 is provided with an eccentric 6l, which is surrounded by a pitman head 62 rigidly fastened to the lower end of a rod 53. Surrounding the rod 63 is a. heavy coiled spring 64, whose lower end is seated against head 62 and whose upper end bears against and supports a head 65, which is fastened by screws 66 to the upper end of the tubular post 57.

The spring 64 is under compression and holds the head 65 in abutting engagement with a hand wheel nut 61. This hand wheel nut is made with a central hub interiorly threaded and adjustably screwed on the upper threaded end of the rod 63. The adjustment of the han-d wheel nut 61 on rod 63 will vary the normal elevation of the platen above the work-bed I3. The rod 63 passes loosely through a hole in the head 65. A lock nut 68 mounted upon the threaded portion of rod 63 above the hand wheel nut 61 serves to hold the latter against rotative displacement on rod 63. This lock nut 68 is provided with a radi-ally disposed handle 69 by means of which it is manipulated. The post and platen are positively moved downwardly by the main shaft acting through the connecting rod 63, but are moved upwardly by the yielding connection afforded by spring 64, which diminishes the shocks or strain of lifting the platen. The spring 64 and the hand operated stop nut 61 also provide convenient means for adjusting the elevation of the platen.

The tubular post 51 is provided with a ball thrust bearing 18 upon which the lower end of the hub 56 of platen arm rests. The head 65 is also provided with a ball thrust bearing 1I to cooperate with the upper end of hub 55. The thrust bearings 18 and 1I also serve to hold the hub 56 against radial displacement relatively to the tubular post 51. Upon its inner face' the head 65 is constructed with a circular extension 12 which is fitted snugly into the upper end of the tubular post 51. The body of the platen arm is preferably an aluminum casting in order that it may be as light as practicable.

The main shaft 60 has loosely mounted upon it at one end a continuously driven pulley 13 (Figs. l, 2 and 8) whose hub is constructed as usual to serve as a clutch member constituting part of a one-revolution-and-stop mechanism 14, controlled by the hand lever 33. The parts of this one-revolution-and-stop mechanism are indicated by' dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 8 andare also shown in part by full lines in Fig. 2. When the control lever 33 is thrown down by the operator the hub of the continuously driven pulley 13 is positively clutched or locked to the main shaft 88, whereupon the latter makes one complete revolution and automatically stops in the position illustrated in Fig. 8 where it remains until control lever 33 is again depressed.

The main shaft S0 also has fixed upon one end thereof a brake wheel 15 (Figs. 1 and 2) arranged within a metal .brake strap 16 having its opposite ends fastened together by meansof a screw 11. One end of this strap is fastened by -a screw 'I8 to the frame I0. This provides a brake mechanism which at all times yieldingly retards movement of shaft 60 so, that the latter will not over-run or injuriously affect other parts of the stop mechanism.

In addition to the control lever 33 the stop mechanism also includes a link 19 (Figs. 1 and 2), which connects one arm of lever 33 with one arm of a bell crank fulcrumed at 8| on frame I0 adjacent to shaft 60. The other arm of bell crank 88 is pivotally connected at 82 with a latch 83 that is cooperatively associate-d with a stud 84 (Fig. 1) projecting radially from a. collar 85 (Fig 2), and also with a stud 86 (Fig. 1), projecting laterally from a shipper member 81 which is pivotally mounted at 88 upon frame I8. Shipper member 81 is cooperatively associated with a stud 89 projecting radially from, and forming part of, the usual axially slidable spring pressed bolt which cooperates as usual with the clutch hub of continuously driven pulley 13.

A spring 98 having one end fastened to frame I8 and its opposite end fastened to link 19 nor- Y mally holds lever 33 against a stop 9| with latch 83 in its lowermost position, while another spring 92 having one end attached to link 19 and its opposite end attached to the upper end of latch 83 serves yieldingly to hold the lower end of latch 83 in position to engage and lift the stud 38 and shipper 81 when lever 33 is depressed.

When lever 33 is depressed and shipper mem-` ber 81 is lifted by latch 83 the spring pressed bolt 89 is freed and moved by its spring axially toward and into engagement with the clutch hub of pulley 13 thereby connecting the latter with shaft 60, The resulting rotation of shaft 60 brings the stud 84 against the lower end of latch 83 thereby disengaging the latch from the stud 88, whereupon the shipper member 81 is swung back into engagement with the collar 85 by ai spring 93 so that as bolt stud 89 completes one revolution it re-engages the shipper 4member 81; and the latter moves the spring pressed bolt, of which stud 89 is part, axially in the opposite direction thereby disengaging said bolt from the clutch hub of pulley 13.

When the depressed lever 33 is released spring of work W (Fig. 7) is then placed imposition resting upon the projections 23 of the embossing plate 20, with its marginal portions beneath the lips 26 of the guide clamps 24 and with the edges of the piece against the shoulders 24 of said guide clamps` This is done while the platen 32 is in its retracted position away from the work-bed.

The platen 32 is then swung from its retracted position laterally into position over the work as shown in Fig. 8, whereupon the operator pushes down upon the lever 33 with the result that the platen makes a single vertical reciprocatory movement.

As the platen descends the transfer sheet 34 is pressed against the top finished side of the leather piece or other blank W, after which the work-bed yields and is depressed slightly on the springs I4; this permits the work support and the work to be accurately fitted and -adjusted to the bottom .surface of.` the platen and the transfer sheet. 34, for which the platen serves as a rigid backing.

When: the platen132makes its downward movementthe resistance off the springs I4 causes the projections 23fof the die to indent the bottom side of the work W and-correspondingly to convex the top side, with the result that a spot of pigment is transferred-to the top side of the work opposite each elevation 23. I-n this way the design outlined by the projections 23` is reproduced upon the top-finished side-of the blank by pigmentary dots thus avoiding objectionable indentations upon the finished side of the leather. When both the transfer sheet 34 and die 22 are disposed opposite the finished side jof the leather as has heretofore been the practice, the projections 23 force the pigmented sheet against the leather and crowd the pigment into indentations formed upon the finished side of the leather. This is objectionable for the reason thatnot only is the finished side of the leather disfigured by indentations, but it is difficult toy remove, the spots of pigment from the bottoms of the indentations.`

A novel and important feature in the work-bed is the divided holder for the embossing plate, consisting of two separate sections I8, I8, resting on thecushoning pad` I1 of the work-bed. When the marking pressure is applied by the platen to the blank resting on the embossing plate in this holder the yielding ofthe pad I1 and its tendency tospreadk under the holder sections I8, I8,

especially when supplemented by the yielding of the work-bed4 as a whole, which is free to rock slightly in. every direction, causes a Slight lateral creeping action between the blank and the transfer sheet, whichA insures a better transfer of the pigment and a clearer marking than is possiblev to get by a strictly vertical pressure.

Themachine described above is readily accessible for quickly and accurately arranging the work; it isspeedyin operation and easy of manipulationand-lends itself to a great variety of sizes, shapes and patterns of blanks; it avoids moving or jarring' the work-bed after the work,

has beenV arranged thereon; it performs even and uniform marking although the leather blank may be uneven; it produces clearer marking than a common press by virtue of the yieldingly sup.-

ported bedplate, the cushioning pad and the divided die-holder, vand does not puncture the leatheror indentits finished surface;` its manipulation -by two handles, one on the swinging platenand one on the operating lever, keeps both hands of theoperator vout of danger; andits automatic and reversible transfer paper feed contributes to clearness of marking and economy of paper.

I claim:

1. A marking machine comprising a frame, a plurality of springs supported on the frame, a work-bed yieldingly supported by said springs to rock universally relative to the frame, a plurality of stops adjustably mounted on the frame to limit both the upward movement of the work-bed under the influence of the springs and its universal rocking movement relative to said frame, a holder for an embossing plate on the work-bed, a platen supported by the frame to move laterally into and out of position over the work-bed and also to move vertically toward and from the work-bed While it is in position over the Work-bed, a transfer sheet supported against the under face of the platen and means to reciprocate the platen vertically while it is in position over the work-bed.

2. A marking machine comprising a frame, a plurality of springsv supported on the frame, a work-bed yieldingly supported by said springs, a plurality of stops adjustably mounted onthe frame to limit the upward movement of the work-bed under the influence of the springs, a holder for an embossing plate on the work-bed, a platen supported by the frame to move laterally into and out of position over the work-bed and also to move vertically toward and from the work-bed while it is in position over the work-bed, two spindles journaled, respectively, near opposite edges of the platen, a transfer sheet connected at opposite ends to said two spindles and extending across the under face of the platen, means to reciprocate the platen vertically while it is in position over the Work-bed, and means actuated by the vertical reciprocation of the platen to rotate one of the spindles and feed the transfer sheet.

3. A marking machine comprising a frame, a plurality of springs supported on the frame, a work-bed yieldingly supported on said springs, said work-bed including a base plate, a cushioning pad on the top side of the base plate and an embossing plate holder divided into tWo separate sections on the top side of the cushioning pad, an embossing plate on said holder, and a platen movable toward and from said embossing plate.

4. A marking machine comprising a frame, a plurality of springs supported on the frame, a work-bed yieldingly supported on said springs, said work-bed including a base plate, a cushioning pad on the top side of the base plate and an embossing plate holder divided into two separate sections on the top side of the cushioning pad, each holder section having an upstanding flange at its outer edge, an embossing plate on said holder, and a platen movable toward and from said embossing plate.

5. A marking machine comprising a frame, a-

plurality of springs supported on said frame, a-

Work-bed yieldingly supported by said springs to rock universally relative to said frame, a plurality of stops adjustably mounted on said framey to limit both the upward movement of the workbed under the influence of theV springs and its universal rocking movement relative to said frame, a platen supported by the frame to move toward and away from said work-bed, a transfer sheet supported against the under surface of said platen, and means to reciprocate the platen toward and away from said Work-bed.

CHARLES F. EATON. 

